Summer McIntosh wins 400m freestyle to open swimming worlds drive for five
McIntosh Makes a Splash: Olympic Star Opens Worlds with Freestyle Victory
Canadian teenager sets sights on record-tying five gold medals.
Canadian Summer McIntosh has kicked off her bid for history at the World Swimming Championships, claiming victory in the women's 400m freestyle. The 18-year-old Olympic champion clocked a time of 3 minutes, 56.26 seconds, outpacing China's Li Bingjie by a comfortable 1.95 seconds. American Katie Ledecky secured bronze.
This win marks McIntosh's first gold medal at these championships and serves as a strong opening statement in her pursuit of a record-tying five individual gold medals – a feat previously achieved only by Michael Phelps.
McIntosh, who claimed three golds at the 2024 Olympics, holds the world record in the 400m freestyle, having set it last month at 3:54.18. While she missed out on gold in this event at the Paris Games, finishing second behind Ariarne Titmus and ahead of Ledecky, she is now determined to dominate in Fukuoka.
Four More Golds in Sight:
With four individual events remaining – the 200m and 400m individual medleys, the 200m butterfly, and the 800m free – McIntosh has her sights set on a historic performance. The 800m freestyle is particularly anticipated as it will see McIntosh go head-to-head with four-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky.
Men's 400m Freestyle Crowned:
In the men's competition, German Lukas Martens took home the gold in a thrilling race, finishing just two hundredths ahead of Australian Sam Short with a time of 3:42.35. Martens, who also won gold at the Paris Olympics, previously broke the world record in the event in April with a time of 3:39.96.
US Swimmer Withdrawals:
Meanwhile, American swimmers Torri Huske and Claire Weinstein withdrew from their respective events – the 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle – due to illness stemming from a pre-worlds training camp in Thailand. A majority of the US swimming team was affected by acute gastroenteritis. Huske can still compete in other events, including the 50m and 100m frees, plus relays.
World Championships Continue:
The World Swimming Championships continue throughout the week with preliminary heats at 10 p.m. ET and finals at 7 a.m., live on Peacock. Monday's finals are expected to feature world record holders McIntosh in the 200m IM and Gretchen Walsh in the women's 100m fly.